Heh. There's a great one the further I get out east but we're talking a 2.5 hrs drive...
Unfortunately I survive by using the local boxes but things like paintbrushes, recpetacles, etc I go to the supply shop since that stuff is not *watered down*.

I like buying framing wood at the boxes as I go there early, pick nice straight ones, etc....

quote; I've yet to find a good trades shop on the plumbing /mechanical side....that was fair to a non trades person

And WHY should they be "fair" to a non-trades person? If I had a supply house which was "fair to a nontrades person", I would stop patronizing them, because they would be making it impossible for me to make a living, if the customer could buy things at my cost, so that it would be difficult to add a profit to them. YOU, as a customer, can either buy it at retail from Home Depot or similar, or have me furnish it to you at about the same price.